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Billerica center's fate deserves your vote

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
11/13/2012 11:19:13 AM EST

Billerica loves a good conspiracy, so it's natural the referendum on the town center's should devolve into an argument over when it should vote.

Town Meeting approved the $14 million redesign in a 133-59 vote last month, normally the end of such matters. The redesign will make Boston Road a true two-way street, and realign the Town Common. Town Manager John Curran says the plan will increase sidewalk space, place utilities underground and make the area safer. But residents, led by Town Meeting rep George Simolaris, collected enough signatures to force an unprecedented reconsideration. Opponents argue it will make the center less safe and make the community appear more urban. Business owners say the reconstruction will hurt them.

The charter limited the town to two election dates, Saturday, Nov. 17, and Monday, Nov. 19. Four of the five selectmen supported the Monday vote, pointing to Town Clerk Shirley Schult's memo citing that preference. But Selectman Michael Rosa, who opposes the redesign, wanted a Saturday vote consistent with the 2009 Parker School debt exclusion. He produced a different memo with Schult writing she could handle either date.

However, the majority rules and the referendum will be held on Nov. 19.

Billerica has run four referenda votes, all related to Proposition 2 1/2, in the past 30 years. Three have occurred on Saturday (1984, 1991 and 2009) and one on Tuesday (1991).

The project needs a two-thirds approval at the ballot box to move forward, but there's a twist.

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According to the town charter, turnout must top 20 percent (about 5,000 voters) or the referendum result is void. Billerica voters' apathy has been staggering in recent years, barely topping 10 percent in town elections. And the aforementioned Parker School vote drew 5,100 ballots. Several selectmen who wanted the Monday date are supporting the project, leaving at least the appearance they want to win the center vote via a lower-than-usual turnout. We hope their intentions are pure.

Long range, Billerica must abolish the 20 percent provision from its charter. It may be designed to inoculate the town from bad decisions foisted by a few, but it hands great power to those who refuse to vote for tactical reasons. That's not the democracy we deserve or should expect.

Until that provision is changed, Billerica residents should have but one decision come Monday, Nov. 19: How to vote on their town's future, and not whether they should.

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